How Do The Unique Chemical And Physical Properties Of Water Make Life On Earth Possible?
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How do the unique chemical and physical properties of water make life on earth possible?
Heat Capacity –
the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of something one
degree celcius
Cohesive strength –
The internal strength of the adhesive. The measure of a labels resistance
to removal.
Surface Tension –
the attraction of molecules to each other on a liquids surface, creating a
barrier between the air and the liquid.
Heat of Vaporization – the amount of energy required to change a liquid to a gas
Solvent –
liquid that can dissolve a substance
A physical property of water that is necessary to life on earth is the fact that ice floats. Ice is held by its hydrogen bonds in a crystal like structure in which each water molecule is bound together by 4 hydrogen bonds to other water molecules. These bonds are packed less tightly than they are in liquid water, so solid water is less dense than liquid water and therefore floats. This isnt the case in most other liquids. Its a good thing that ice floats because if it didnt then water would freeze from the bottom up. That would make it impossible for life to exist. Instead, ice forms a protective layer which keeps the water at least over zero Celsius allowing organisms to survive.
A property of water that is necessary to life on earth that is chemical is waters high heat capacity. Waters high heat capacity make it a good temperature moderator. Waters heat capacity makes oceans, ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water relatively constant throughout the seasons. It also has the effect of minimizing variations of atmospheric temperature.
Cohesive strength and surface tension are physical